MERCEDES-BENZ C COUPE 2005 CL203 Owner's Manual

350 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front-pass
airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
If performing any of the above corrective steps is
successful, the message
Front-pass airbag
deactivated See Operator’s Manual
will appear
in the multifunction display, confirming the situa-
tion has been remedied. Note that after perform-
ing the corrective steps, it may take up to
60 seconds for the message
Front-pass airbag
deactivated See Operator’s Manual
to appear.
If the message
Front-pass airbag activated
See Operator’s Manual
remains on in the multi-
function display and/or the 56indicator
lamp remains out even after performing the
above corrective steps, have the system checked
as soon as possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
If the message
Front-pass airbag
activated See Operator’s Manual
re-
mains on in the multifunction display and/or
the 56indicator lamp remains out
even after performing the above corrective
steps, do not have any children12 years old
and under and other small individuals use
the front passenger seat until the system
has been repaired.

351 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front-pass
airbag deactivated
See Operator’s Manual
Air bag is deactivated while driv-
ing even though an adult or some-
one larger than a small individual
is occupying the front passenger
seat. Forces acting on the seat
may make the system sense a
decrease in weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possi-
ble and check the following:
Do not lean on armrests or lift yourself up using
handle over the door. This may make the system
sense that an occupant of a lesser weight than
actually present is on the front passenger seat.

Re-position yourself.

Sit properly belted in a nearly upright position
with your back against the seat backrest.
If performing any of the above corrective steps is
successful, the message
Front-pass airbag
activated See Operator’s Manual
will appear in the
multifunction display, confirming the situation has
been remedied.
(Continued on next page)

352 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front-pass
airbag deactivated
See Operator’s Manual
Note that after performing the corrective steps, it
may take up to 60 seconds for the message Front-pass airbag activated See Operator’s
Manual
to appear.
If the message
Front-pass airbag deactivated See
Operator’s Manual
remains on in the multifunction
display and/or the 56indicator lamp re-
mains on even after performing the above corrective
steps, have the system checked as soon as possible
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not have any passenger use the front passenger
seat until the system has been repaired.
Warning!
G
If the message
Front-pass airbag
deactivated See Operator’s Manual
remains on in the multifunction display
and/or the 56indicator lamp re-
mains illuminated even after performing the
above corrective steps, do not have any pas-
senger use the front passenger seat until
the system has been repaired.

353 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The ESP and the BAS
are also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The ABS or the ABS display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

354 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
BAS
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The charging voltage has fallen below ten
volts. The BAS has switched off.
The battery might not be charged
sufficiently.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the BAS available.

Continue driving with added caution.

If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the BAS is operational again.
malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The BAS has detected a malfunction and
switched off.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The BAS or the BAS display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

355 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The ESP was deactivated because of a
malfunction or interrupted power supply.
The ABS might not be operational.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
If the yellow ESP warning lampv
flashes while driving and this message
appears, the electronic traction system
has switched off to prevent overheating
of the drive wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the
electronic traction system switches on
again.
The self-diagnosis has not been
completed yet.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP available.
The display will clear after driving a short
distance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h).
The charging voltage has fallen below ten
volts. The ESP has switched off.
The battery might not be charged
sufficiently.

Continue driving with added caution.

If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ESP is operational again.

356 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The ESP is deactivated because of a
malfunction.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP available.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction.
Visit workshop.
The ESP or the ESP display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
SRS
Restraint system
malfunction
Drive to workshop
The system is malfunctioning.

Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the SRS may
not be activated when needed in an
accident, which could result in serious or
fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly
and unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.

357 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Battery Alternator
Visit workshop.
The battery is no longer charging:

broken poly-V-belt


alternator malfunctioning

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an
inoperative water pump which may
result in damage to the engine. Notify
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Low voltage
Charge battery
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Start the engine (
page 48).
Low voltage
Switch off consumers
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Turn off unnecessary electrical
consumers

358 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
!
(Canada only)
;
(USA only)
Parking brake
Release brake.
You are driving with the parking brake
set.

Release the parking brake
(page 50).
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop.
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon
as possible.
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
Brake fluid
Visit workshop.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and
notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This
will not solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with this message displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately. Do not add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir
can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet.

359 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 296).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat causing major
engine damage.